Monday, December 8, 2008

As the Dodgers try to resolve their infield, they are again talking to the Yankees about a trade for second baseman Robinson Cano. The teams have resumed their discussions about Cano at the winter meetings, according to one source.

The Dodgers also are interested in Yankees center fielder Melky Cabrera, and the Yankees likely would want outfielder Matt Kemp and pitching in return. The Dodgers' interest in Cabrera is a sign that they might not be confident of Andruw Jones making a strong return in 2009. The Dodgers also need to find a match for Juan Pierre, who has requested a trade.

I'd love Matt Kemp here, but I'd still have a hard time parting with Robinson Cano despite his awful season. I read an article recently that Cano is down to 11 percent body fat and is working really hard to regain his form from seasons past. The conspiracy theorist in me is wondering, however, if the Yankees planted these stories to simply drive up Cano's value.

Now, on to Rosenthal's 12:31 p.m. update:

A.J. Burnett seems more interested in pitching in New York than CC Sabathia, the Yankees' other top free-agent target. While Sabathia sits on the Yankees' offer of the richest-ever pitching contract and reportedly met with GM Brian Cashman, Burnett has reached out to former Yankee Carl Pavano, who did not steer him away from the Yankees. Pavano, who did not enjoy his New York experience, told Burnett "he has the stuff to pitch there," according to a major-league source.